Chapter 7

Stunned.

That was the only word I could use to describe my current state. 

I had just revealed to Alpha Grayson that I was the daughter of his greatest enemy, and yet he refused to let me go. I got out of the car in silence and waited for Marnie to pull up beside me. As I hopped into her car, she could tell I wanted to be left alone. I felt bad as I knew she would have a thousand questions and concerns, but I couldn't handle that right now. I was about to say goodbye to everyone I loved, say goodbye to the only town I've ever known and leave all that is familiar behind. 

As we pulled into the packhouse driveway I only now realized what time it was, it was 1:30 am. A surge of guilt flooded my already uneasy stomach, not only would I have to say goodbye to my family, but I also had to wake them up and keep them from any other sleep they may have gotten tonight as I knew they would lie awake, fear and anxiety keeping any peaceful thoughts of sleep far away. 

Marnie waited outside as I trudged up towards the front door, the party-goers were long gone and the night was still and quiet. I contemplated waking my brothers up but decided to leave them be. They would only try to keep me here, and I didn't want to be the reason for any spilt blood here tonight. I went straight to my room and began to pack, I settled on the idea of packing first, then saying my goodbyes to my parents, that way it might be easier for me to leave. I flicked on the light and took a long look around the room I had grown up in. I smiled at the pictures I had resting on my dresser and across my walls. I wrapped each frame carefully amongst my clothes, if I couldn't see my family in the flesh again, at least I would be able to take my memories. After packing my clothes and various knick-knacks I rolled up my blanket, it smelt like the laundry detergent my mum brought and I knew it would bring me comfort. I looked around my room one last time, it was once a place where I could go to hide from everyone, a place of comfort and joy. Memories of sleepovers I had with Marnie popped up, each one was full of laughter and love. Now, my room only brought sadness to my heart as I knew I would never have another sleepover in it again.

I crept down the hall towards my parent's room, I could hear the gentle sounds of my dad snoring. I sat on the edge of the bed and gently woke my mum up. She sat up confused, sleep still heavy in her eyes.

"Laila? What is it? I thought you would be out all night".

My dad was the next to wake up as he heard my mothers voice. He shot up, alarmed at first at being woken in the night, but relaxed as his eyes adjusted and saw it was only me. 

"I have to say goodbye". I stumbled to find the words to say as I choked back heavy sobs, tears streaming down my face for the second time tonight. 

"What do you mean, say goodbye?", my dad asked. He was fully awake now and the concern on his face was clear even in the dim light. 

"I found... I found my mate tonight. He's waiting for me". I glanced at the clock beside my parent's bed and saw I had only an hour left. Though he had given me 90 minutes, I was scared to go even a second over that time and decided I would prefer to be early, even if that meant cutting my time with my family short. 

"Sweetheart that's wonderful news! But surely you can wait until morning to introduce us?", my mum's sleepy smile sent a pang of pain to my heart, she had no idea of what I was in for and I didn't know if I had the strength to tell her. 

"No mum, this can't wait. I've packed my bags already and have to meet him on the border. I need to leave tonight, and I don't know when.. If I'll ever be back". 

My parents jumped out of bed, suspicion now cemented on their faces as their sleepy smiles had disappeared. 

"Why at the borders? Why tonight, Laila?", my dad demanded. I could feel his anger grow and he began to piece together what I was struggling to let out. 

"He's one of them, isn't he!", his voice thundered against the walls of his bedroom.

My sobs began to escalate, my mother cradled me against her chest. I could feel her tremble as my father began to get dressed.

"We won't let you go with him. I don't care who he is, you are one of us".

"You know what rejecting the mate bond will do to her Derek!", my mum cried. I could hardly recognize her voice as she too was holding back tears.

"I would rather that than have some low life Dark Moon maniac capture my daughter!".

"Dad! I don't have a choice, he's waiting for me and is prepared to come and get me by any means necessary", I tried to reason with my father. His eyes dark as his wolf was ready to come out and defend his own. 

"I don't care, and I don't think his Alpha would care for one of his own starting up a war with his enemy for a mate, I'm going to wake your brothers". 

My dad's love and readiness to fight for me only brought more tears to my eyes. "You don't understand", I whispered. 

My father turned to me, his eyes were full of determination, and I could feel his need to protect his child. As he looked at me, I watched as the realization slowly dawned on him. I wasn't mated to some random member of the Dark Moon pack, I was mated to THE pack... the Alpha himself. He was at a loss for words, frozen where he stood. The readiness to fight I had seen only moments ago was slowly being pushed aside by pity. I had no doubt my dad would still fight for me, but he knew I would never allow that. Not when Alpha Grayson would make it his mission to wipe the whole pack from existence for hiding his mate from him. 

My mum continued to sob uncontrollably, I felt my fathers weight on the bed as he wrapped his arms around the both of us. The air was thick with sorrow, it was truly as if we were in mourning, I guess in some way we were. 

"I don't want to wake Blake and Karter, they wouldn't think as rationally as you dad. They wouldn't understand what's at risk".

My dad nodded silently in approval. 

We sat together for what felt like hours, holding on to each other tightly. I inhaled the sweet smell of my mother and the oaky smell of my father, committing their scents to memory before I reluctantly stood to leave. With thirty minutes to spare, I walked down the stairs and through the front door, turning to savour one last glance of my true home. My heart was cracking, my mind was numb as I sat in the passenger seat of Marnie's car. Though I was ultimately committing myself to the enemy, I vowed to remain loyal to my pack, for as long as I lived.